The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-11-10
Broom Corn Growing.

Broom corn can be grown in almost
every part of the United States. I'm
less the crop can be held over when
prices are low, broom corn growing
can not be recommended, as the price
of no other crop fuctuates more
from forty to three hundred dollars
per ton. Also, on heavy clay soil,
or on foul land, it will hardly be
profitable. 1t is crop that requires
so much work that its average cost
will be from fifteen to twenty dollars
per acre. The average yield per acre
is six hundred pounds. There are on
ly two varieties worth growing. The
Dwarf variety, which grows only
three or four feet high, is little eulti-
waited, its brush being used only for
whisks and clothes brushes. The Ev-
ergreen, Missouri, or Tennessee, is the
standard variety. 1t yields a long,
fine brush, and retains its green color
till the seeds ripen. Broom corn re-
quires more warmth than Indian corn,
hence does best on sandy, or black
loan soil, and in the North the ground
should be plowed in the fall or very
early in the spring, and put in fine
tilth for the crop. But nothing is
gained by planting before the ground
is warm. 1t is of the utmost impor-
tance to get good seed; select the best
seed, ''swim it" and reject all that
floats. On very clean land it may be
put in drills three feet apart, the
stalks in the drills three to four inches
apart. Otherwise plant in rows three
feet apart, hills two feet apart in the
row, six to eight stalks in the hill, and
drop only enough, for thinning is a
tedious, hard job. Cover lightly, not
deeper than an inch. It's cultivation
is the same as for Indian corn, but
must be thorough. Usually at least
one hoeing will be required. The
ground must be clean and mellow
when the crop~is young.
The care in harvesting of few other
crops has as much effect upon the pro-
fit. The brush must not be allowed
to lie in the rain, or moved too green,
nor must the seed be allowed to ripen.
The seed is fairly good stock food,
but if allowed to ripen the value of
GIl0 UTuSu Is NI0uuCcu HlOlO OAdu OuC
seed is worth. Begin cutting as soon
as the blossom falls; then the brush
will be heaviest and have the best col
or. First comes 'tabling g"-breaking
two rows at about two feet from the
ground (by man going backward be-
tween them) and laying them across
each other, so that all the brush pro-
jects into the space between the ia
bles; this may be done and yet the
stalks be at such an angle that the
table will support the brush when cut.
To cut properly, be careful not to
catch the leaf; place the knife against
the stalk about eight inches from the
brush, and draw the brush, not the
knife. The blade must not be taken
off with the brush. As the brush is
laid on the table, and then hauled in
wagons to be scraped. In scraping,
separate the crooked brush from the
struight. The scraplng is done on
small cylinder, like that of a thresh-
ING machine, but no concawe is used,
and it is run from the operator. The
power may be one or two horse pow
er. Scrapiug is to take off the seed.
The scraped brush must be cured M
der shelter. Any building or shed
through which there is free circula-
ton Of air will answer. 1t is best to
construct racks upon which to lay the
bresh, ar when green it should not be
more than three inches deep; but as
it becomes partly cured, more brush
may be laid upon it. Illinois grows
more broom corn than any other
State.-American AgricWlturist.